The holy grail of Doctor Who news!

The holy grail of Doctor Who news!

And it's not when the new season will finally start either...

By thwhtGuardian - Feb 08, 2010 12:02 AM EST
Filed Under: Sci-Fi
Source: SFX

Ever since Doctor Who's grand return to the small screen there has been one lone, persistent rumor that has had Who fans everywhere aflutter with joy. It's not the return of the Ice warriors, or the Rani. It has nothing to do with a new movie, or a meeting of the past doctors. No. the biggest rumor has always centered around one man, and it wasn't even an actor who was rumored to play the Doctor. no. It was a humble writer.

A clue? His name rhymes with Teal Simon.

Yes, you guessed it, famed science fiction and fantasy author Neil Gaiman has confirmed he will be writing an episode of Doctor Who for Matt Smith's second series as The Doctor. Gaiman broke the news in a special message sent to SFX Weekender as part of his acceptance speech for winning Best Comic at the SFX Awards where he wrote, "Over the years SFX, and its readers and their votes in the polls, have always been very kind to me. I thought I’d return the favor with what used to be called, in journalistic circles when I was a boy, a scoop.
As anyone who’s read my blog knows, I’m a big fan of a certain long-running British SF TV series. One that started watching -- from behind the sofa -- when I was three. And while I know it’s cruel to make you wait for things, in about 14 months from now, which is to say, NOT in the upcoming season but early in the one after that, it’s quite possible that I might have written an episode. And if I had, it would originally have been called “The House of Nothing”. But it definitely isn’t called that any more."

So good news, we get an episode penned by one of the greatest fantasy novelist of all time.

Bad news: we have to wait 14 months to see it.

Worse news: The BBC has still yet to confirm the start date of the next season of Doctor Who.

Oh well, all good things to those that wait.

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answer
answer - 2/8/2010, 4:26 AM
I was going to stick this up yesterday but couldn't be arsed! Great article mate! Cant bloody wait for the new series!!
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 2/8/2010, 6:27 AM
Damn, great stuff, hopefully we'll get that SANDMAN and DEATH movies soon too!

yeah i know forever lol.
loganoneil
loganoneil - 2/8/2010, 9:44 AM
Ooooo, BRILLIANT!! Fantastic find, Guardian! At first I was worried about Moffat's choice of Smith as Tennant's replacement, but with this news, I'm going to cut him a little more slack...

Anyone interested in a PROPER sonic screwdriver prop replica from the new series (seasons 1-2)?

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/TARDISDatabank/news/?a=14608

thwhtGuardian
thwhtGuardian - 2/8/2010, 12:49 PM
Yeah, I'm willing to give him a chance, simply because of the writers involved. If the stories are top notch I'm betting Matt will grow on us all.

oh, and great fansite Logan!
loganoneil
loganoneil - 2/8/2010, 12:54 PM
Guardian - My thoughts exactly (thought I dunno' if I can get over the whole dorky Oxford professor-look Smith seems to be sporting...)

Thanks - coming from you, that's truly a compliment! I'm thinking of writing a brief rundown on the show to update people (mostly in the US) who have no clue what it's about for my next article - what do you think? I'm still combing the web for a start date... STILL no luck! How 'bout you?
thwhtGuardian
thwhtGuardian - 2/8/2010, 2:08 PM
Yeah, I got nothing on the start date, I check the BBC site every morning like a little kid on Christmas just hoping to see a start date, but alas; no luck.

As for Smith I read that he's sort of playing the Doctor as if he were the first incarnation of the Doctor trapped in a young man's body. I think the kind of frustration involved with that concept has a lot of really great story potential.

And I can't wait to read your recap.
loganoneil
loganoneil - 2/8/2010, 2:29 PM
Smith's doing a younger Hartnell? That should be fun to see and should make for interesting character and inter-personal relations development (considering Hartnell's Doctor was a bit... 'unpleasant' at times). I wonder if he took notes from Collin Baker (his Doctor was 'spot-on' in channeling his 'inner-Hartnell').
thwhtGuardian
thwhtGuardian - 2/8/2010, 2:44 PM
Yeah, that's what I've heard that at times he'll be a little unpleasant due to people not taking him seriously due to his young appearance. The contrast between an immensely old mind and a youthful exterior just feels like it could be interesting.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how it plays out.
Ranger14
Ranger14 - 2/8/2010, 3:18 PM
I want Torchwood Season 4!
thwhtGuardian
thwhtGuardian - 2/8/2010, 3:38 PM
Me too! I just finished watching children of earth and it was excellent. I think I'd like to see a continuation with mickey and Martha joining Jack.
loganoneil
loganoneil - 2/8/2010, 3:49 PM
I'll second the motion, but I dunno' if that's going to happen - Noel Clarke has become quite the director, plus (according to IMDB - yeah, I know... RELIABLE source there!) he's already got one item in pre-production and two in post, with no mention of 'Torchwood' :( .

I think we might be getting Allonzo (the guy Jack was hitting on at the end of 'The End of Time' episode) as the new 'Ianto'.
JaySchluffy
JaySchluffy - 2/8/2010, 4:16 PM
The reason the BBC havnt confirmed a date yet (well apart from spring) is because there still filming it! You dont want to rush something like the Doctor (especially with a whole new production team!)

Also Stephen Fry's script has been on hold for years now, hopefully there will be some season 6 action for him too.
loganoneil
loganoneil - 2/8/2010, 4:47 PM
Jay - Most of the season is already 'in-the-can' and they've run this way in the past, so that still doesn't explain the hold-up.
thwhtGuardian
thwhtGuardian - 2/8/2010, 5:25 PM
From what I've read the first 5 episodes are totally done, as well as episode 10. The status of the other episodes remain thus far unconfirmed. Usually we've already started, but I'm not one to rush so I'll let it come when it will.
Also, I just read that John Barrowman doesn't think Captain Jack will be involved in the near future, in Torchwood or Doctor Who.
loganoneil
loganoneil - 2/8/2010, 6:09 PM
WHAT?! Barrowman already signed onto this next season of 'Torchwood' - how can he NOT be involved? So what you're saying is Torchwood-Cardiff is Gwen... and Rhys ('cause that's all who's left after 'Children of Earth')?!
thwhtGuardian
thwhtGuardian - 2/8/2010, 6:22 PM
He said, "I don't know ... that's the answer I have to give you, I have no idea. I have no clue of what's going to happen, that's the official answer. That's what I am sticking to - I always say something else and and say something more, and I get in trouble for it, so I'm not saying anything more!"

http://www.kasterborous.com/2010/02/08/barrowman-on-torchwood-series-4/

So it seems that if there is a season four, he's in the dark about it.
loganoneil
loganoneil - 2/8/2010, 7:02 PM
It's it possible that he's being 'mysterious' to keep drum up more interest?
thwhtGuardian
thwhtGuardian - 2/8/2010, 7:05 PM
It's possible, I certainly hope so. He did say it was the answer he had to give, so perhaps it's just heavily under wraps. We'll see.
flames809
flames809 - 2/8/2010, 7:30 PM
the show looks wack not really into it
thwhtGuardian
thwhtGuardian - 2/8/2010, 8:22 PM
Good to know.
loganoneil
loganoneil - 2/8/2010, 8:27 PM
Well, knowing that RTD is running the show, it wouldn't surprise me...
thwhtGuardian
thwhtGuardian - 2/9/2010, 1:12 PM
Yeah, I thought about posting the episode list, good call Thorverine! It looks like we're going to be getting some excellent stories, I especially can't wait to see River Song again.
loganoneil
loganoneil - 2/9/2010, 3:36 PM
Those episodes should be especially interesting - I've heard that this time the Doctor knows her, but she has no clue who he is (as they haven't met yet in her timeline). A sort of role reversal (if you will)...

The Weeping Angels from series 3 episode 'Blink' will be in them (YAY!). The Doctor supposedly contemplates allowing the Angels to shift Song though time, thereby saving her life from the certain destruction in 'Forest of the Dead'.
thwhtGuardian
thwhtGuardian - 2/9/2010, 6:19 PM
The weeping angels are hands down my favorite aliens from Doctor who, I was so pumped to see they were coming back. And the role reversal with River Song should be awesome.
loganoneil
loganoneil - 2/10/2010, 10:10 AM
Oh, by the by - did anyone catch this little tidbit? It hasn't been confirmed BUT... supposedly Bill Nighy (aka Viktor from the 'Underworld' series and Davy Jones from 'The Priates of the Caribbean' series) will be a guest star in the upcoming series. No news yet as to whom he might be playing, but wouldn't it be cool/a little bit funny if he had a part in the 'Vampires of Venice' episode?
loganoneil
loganoneil - 2/10/2010, 10:14 AM
Actually, I stand corrected. Looks like he'll be in 'Vincent and the Doctor'. According to contactmusic.com:

NIGHY TO STAR IN DOCTOR WHO

Actor BILL NIGHY is set to make a cameo in the new series of DOCTOR WHO, according to an internet report.
The veteran star will play the curator of a Vincent van Gogh exhibition in the upcoming episode, which will be set in both modern day and 19th century France. The episode was written by Nighy's 'Love Actually' director Richard Curtis.

A source tells Digital Spy, "It was a real coup to get Bill Nighy in Doctor Who, especially in Richard Curtis' amazing episode. Bill plays a van Gogh expert with some similar fashion choices to The Doctor himself." The episode is believed to have been filmed over Christmas in Croatia and Cardiff, Wales.

Sir Derek Jacobi, John Simm, Michelle Ryan, Timothy Dalton, and now Bill Nighy?! This new series is pulling in some real A-listers!
thwhtGuardian
thwhtGuardian - 2/10/2010, 12:07 PM
Man, it'll be great to see him in Doctor Who! I actually voted for him to be the Doctor on a poll before Smith was announced, he's an awesome actor.
loganoneil
loganoneil - 2/11/2010, 7:46 AM
More 'news' on the rumor front - supposedly actor Neve McIntosh will be playing a pair of 'lizard'-like warriors in an upcoming episode. Could we be seeing the return of either the Silurians or the Sea Devils? Hmmmmm....

Moffat IS a hardcore fanboy for the classic series, and you can only do so many stories with Daleks and Cybermen. Speaking of Cybermen, I've heard that Moffat wants to bring back PROPER Cybermen (from Mondas) and not the alternate-reality ones that have been running around the new series. Could he be setting up a war for the crown - who will win the right to be called a true Cyberman? Now THAT would be an interesting story-arc.
loganoneil
loganoneil - 2/11/2010, 7:59 AM
Geez, I should do more research instead of jumping the gun (I just get too damn excited!) - according to digitaljournal.com:


Scottish actress Neve McIntosh has revealed that an old enemy is to return to the BBC science-fiction/fantasy series Doctor Who.

The Silurians, a race of underground reptiles, were first seen during the third Doctor Jon Pertwee era of Doctor Who in a 1970 episode called “Doctor Who and the Silurians.” They last appeared 26 years ago opposite Peter Davison, the fifth Doctor, in "Warriors of the Deep."

This was the only time that the Silurians have appeared alongside another reptilian race of monsters, their underwater counterparts and relatives, the Sea Devils (who were mentioned by the Doctor’s arch enemy the Master, played by John Simm in the 2009 episode “The End of Time,” which was the last story to feature David Tennant as the Doctor before Matt Smith takes over as the youngest ever actor in the role).

Neve made the revelation in an interview in the Perth Advertiser, which carried a story about her own role in the drama when it returns to British TV screens in the spring.

Of Matt Smith, she says: “I think he’s going to be really good, the best yet out of the new guys. The stories have got a bit darker. I play twins, and they’re big lizard warrior women.

“They’re one of the Silurian tribes that have been undisturbed under the earth. And of course we get disturbed.

“It’s the first time I’ve worn prosthetics but I’m still recognisable if you know me well enough.”

Her mention of “the new guys” is a reference to Christopher Eccleston (the ninth Doctor) and David Tennant (the tenth), the first and second Doctors in what is commonly known as “new Who,” as opposed to the so-called classic series.


So I guess the Silurians WILL be back - JOYGASM! This series is getting better and better....!
thwhtGuardian
thwhtGuardian - 2/11/2010, 3:34 PM
It is indeed! Great find man.
loganoneil
loganoneil - 2/12/2010, 11:29 AM
Uhhhh... I dunno' how to take this next one - according to sylvestermccoy.com, the 2010 Christmas Special (tentatively titled 'A Crack in Time'?) has the Doctor catching "...a cold and turn(ing) into a girl!"

I know that Moffat always stressed the fact that the Doctor IS alien, and he did joke on 'The Curse of Fatal Death' that it was always was a possibility that 'he' could regenerate into a 'she', but I never thought Stephen would actually 'pull the trigger' (so to speak).

Still, this IS a rumor/spoiler page, so maybe they're jerking our chains. Could be interesting...
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